Barty braces for stiff contest

AFTER having her wisdom teeth removed during the offseason, the prospect of facing the world’s best tennis players in Sydney this week has barely ruffled Ashleigh Barty.

Australia’s highest-ranked tennis player, male or female, world No.15 Barty carries the nation’s hopes at the Sydney International and into the Australian Open.

But Barty’s path in Sydney means she’ll have to go through 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko to then play world No.1 Simona Halep in successive games this week.

“It’s a perfect thing, Sydney has now set the benchmark for the tournament standard, across all premier tournaments,” said Barty, who faces Ostapenko today at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.

“This is probably the toughest draw you’re going to come across all year, around the globe, not just in Australia.

“You have to be ready from the get-go. There are certainly no easy matches here.”

The 22-year-old, who reached the Sydney final last year, has overcome the removal of her wisdom teeth.

“I was living my best chipmunk life for two weeks, which was brutal,” Barty said. “Having all four out, and we had some issues and complications with infections afterwards, but we’re good to go now.

“For the first couple of days I was smashing the soups and ice creams, which was pretty good, which you can do in offseason. I paid for it in preseason but it was all right, it was worth every one.”

The Sydney International features eight of the top 10 WTA-ranked players, a place Barty is determined to crack in 2019.

“The last two years for me have been extremely consistent which I’m happy about, but the next goal is top 10 and go deep in Slam events,” she said.

“The only extra expectation is (what) I have on myself, to make sure I train hard, prepare well, to try to allow myself to perform at my best.”

After her stellar 2018, winning the WTA Elite Trophy and Nottingham Open while reaching the fourth round of US Open, Barty is refusing to get carried away, spending her downtime with friends, family and their four dogs.

“I’m the same old Ash that I always have been, I’m extremely happy on and off the court and I think they coincide, no doubt,” Barty said.

“Last year, it was really exciting to make my first final at home (in Sydney), I have those really nice memories and confidence from last year, but this is a new year, a new slate, a new draw.”